VANCOUVER — East Vancouver’s Waldorf Hotel has been sold to a real-estate development company, forcing its imminent closure.
The historic property, which is considered a cultural hub of East Vancouver’s community, was sold to the Solterra Group of Companies in January. The hotel operates in the rundown neighbourhood of East Vancouver with a mission to create a cultural hub in the area. It has a restaurant, a tiki bar, two nightclub spaces, a recording studio and an art gallery. Over the years the hotel has attracted a number of art exhibitions, music and film festivals, special parties and bands.
“The Waldorf closing is a big loss to Vancouver’s growing creative community. They built a great culture hub, and it’s my hope that they’ll be able to re-launch and return in some form in the near future,” Gregor Robertson, Vancouver’s mayor, said in a statement. “Supporting Vancouver’s dynamic arts and culture sector is a top priority of our city council, and the city is exploring ways to support the Waldorf continuing as one of Vancouver’s most unique and vibrant cultural spaces.”
The Waldorf will be vacated Sunday, Jan. 20.
